A day after hearing word out of Derrick Rose's camp that there was little interest in visiting Miami, the Heat will get its look at its preferred target in Thursday's NBA draft. But a face-to-face session in Los Angeles this weekend - Not Miami - might do little to change Rose's view of the draft.
Rose, a remarkable point guard prospect who led the University of Memphis to the National title game, wants to play for his hometown Chicago Bulls, who own the No. 1 pick in the draft. He made that very clear following his two-day workout in Chicago a couple of days ago.
He compared the possibility of being picked first overall by Chicago to the 2003 draft when Cleveland picked Ohio native LeBron James. Rose went as far as to say he would "hate it" if the Bulls bypassed him for Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.
Somehow, that "hate" term was unfairly taken out of context in some circles to mean that he would "hate it" if the Heat drafted him. It was nothing personal. Rose has every right to want to rep his crib. It's no different than the undying love Udonis Haslem has for the 305. And don't think for one second that Wade wouldn't have done all he could to sway the Bulls to draft him if they were in position in '03.
But to suggest Rose's feelings on the matter have little impact on the overall process might be a bit of an overstatement. We can't have it both ways. If Beasley came out this week after his visit to Miami and said he doesn't want to get drafted by the Heat, it would be major news and possibly throw a major monkey wrench into the draft and its aftermath.
It happened in baseball in 1997 when J.D. Drew refused to sign with the Phillies after he was drafted with the second overall pick.
It happened in basketball in 1999, when Steven Francis dropped his head and cried on draft night when he was taken by the Grizzlies with the second pick. He later forced his trade to the Houston Rockets.
And I actually covered Eli Manning in college and vividly recall how the Manning family told the Chargers in 2004 not to draft him. They did anyway and quickly shipped him to New York. The rest is history.
But for some reason, we're quick to dismiss Rose's comments the other way as meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I can't fault Rose for speaking his mind and stating his preference. However, if his camp would have followed through with plans to hold off on visiting with the Heat, it would have been a bit over the top and perceived as a spoiled act.
But the Heat will get its look at Rose for the sake of pre-draft etiquette, only because it holds the second pick. And if the Bulls somehow foolishly pass over this kid, all that was said this past week by the Rose camp would be quickly forgotten when he falls to the Heat.
The Heat and the Bulls will be foolish to pass up on Michael Beasley.
Posted by: A | June 21, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Screw Rose! I hope Riley bypasses him if he's available when we pick.
Posted by: Prickly Rose | June 21, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Beaseley, Beaseley, Beasely!!!!!!! screw Rose, Beasely is the best player in the draft. I hope Riley is not stupid enough to bypass him if the Bulls do. Get Beasely, forget Rose.
Posted by: Lance | June 21, 2008 at 10:06 AM
after what rose said, im convince he has a bigger attitude problem than beasley does.
Posted by: Allan | June 21, 2008 at 11:48 AM
In my opinion, especially with the rebuilding thats happening, the Heat are not one player away from getting back to the glory days...They need shooting and a point guard who can lead the team and thats not Rose and may not be Beasley (although I love his game). Package the pick (i.e. to the grizzlies as proposed for Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry, another player and the 5th pick.) WIth the 5th pick, select D.J. Augustine..He is a very good floor leader, more NBA Ready than the other, exceptional long range shot, exceptional quickness, plays defense and distributes the ball. He is a very good complement to Wade, we keep Udonis, and Shawn, and add three players. Mike Miller provides range and offense and his defense has improved since playing on the World team.
Posted by: web | June 21, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Going a bit on the topic of building a strong team, I also believe that if the Heat aren't enamored with the pick (Beasley or Rose; whomever falls to us), then we should trade with the Grizzlies.
However with the fifth pick I would stretch the possibility of getting Kevin Love. I know most think he is a subpar athlete, yet he still took his team to the final four, has an amazing basketball IQ (that will never cost you games, it only improves late game decision making), serious work ethic, is very skilled for either the 4 or 5 (he made threes during the NCAA tournament) and is still only 19! He does have more ceiling to him, will get in better conditioning as well as give the Heat a legit Pivot.
With getting Miller (a shooter and solid role player/6th or 7th), as well as Lowry (strong PG with great rebounding, defensive and distributing skills), essentially the Heat would get a solid starting 5 (providing they keep Marion & Haslem), upgrade the point, and have solid depth.
Resigning Wright and Zo would be paramount, giving the Heat a quick, defensive minded, yet fast break oriented team.
Starters:
PG: Lowry
SG: Wade
C: Love
PF: Haslem
SF: Marion
Posted by: Jamil | June 21, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Take Beasley--those proposals for Miller/Lowry are lame, lame!
Posted by: Redbaby | June 21, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Look it's simple. If Chicago takes Rose- which they likely will- take Beasley.People, understand something.THERE IS NO SUPERSTAR OUT THERE; THERE IS NO PLAYER OUT THERE LIKE A SHAQUILLE O'NEAL OR A KEVIN GARNETT OUT THERE THAT IS GOING TO PUT YOU OVER THE TOP. That trade that you guys are proposing is not going to make the Heat good enough to beat a lot of the teams that are already ahead of us.Beasley is a monster.He is better than anyone out there.
Posted by: Stan Marsh | June 21, 2008 at 05:50 PM
OK guys, here's how it's gonna go down. Everybody knows Chicago will draft Rose, so The Heat will draft Beasley and package him to Memphis. One small problem: Minnesota will highjack Mayo with the 3rd pick. So, we have to include them in the deal. Plus we might need a 4th team who desperately needs a PG and will take Banks. So Here's a successful 4-team trade that satisfies everybody:
Miami send #2 pick Beasley, Blount and Cook to Memphis, and Banks to Denver. Denver sends Steven Hunter to Memphis. Miami get Mike Miller, Darko Milicic, and #3 pick Mayo. Minnesota get Jason Collins and the #5 pick (Love/Lopez) and sends Marko Jaric to Memphis. This trade works. Check it out:
RealGM.com Trade ID #4668794
Posted by: Richard | June 21, 2008 at 10:18 PM
If Rose would have stayed in college, and we had the #1 pick. We'd happily snatch Beasley and have a whole different attitude. We wouldn't even entertain the idea of trading the pick.So why now?
Posted by: Derek | June 21, 2008 at 10:28 PM
YO DERRICK COMEING 2 DA M.I.A ON DA 2 THOUGHT 4 GET BOUT BEASLEY YO ROSE ALL DAY
PG-ROSE
SG-WADE
SF-MARION
PF-BOZZER
C-MORNING
Posted by: mm | June 21, 2008 at 11:23 PM
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE
Posted by: thomas | June 21, 2008 at 11:30 PM
ROSE? MAN WE REALLY NEED A POINT GUARD O YEAH COME 2 MIAMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: oly | June 21, 2008 at 11:35 PM
dnt get me wrong beasley is an soild pf/sf he would be good fit for miami but not as great as derrick rose he is a good backcourt with wade and eazy er 4 pat riely 2 find a pf...........
Posted by: ricky | June 21, 2008 at 11:42 PM
man dnt even thik bout beasly rose is da best even he talk sh#t bout m.i.a IT ALL GUD MAN ROSE U WELCOME 2 DA MIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mayson | June 21, 2008 at 11:46 PM
NO NO NO MAKE IT SIMPLE GET ROSE TRADE CHRIS QUINN J.WILL GET TJ.FORD TO BE BENCH
MOS DEF.TRADE BLOUT N RICKY IF DEY COME BAC NOTHER BAD AZZ YEAR GET CARLOS OR BRAND N WE MOS DEF GONNA HAVE A HEALTY WADE PREFECT TEAM GAT NOTHIN 2 LOSE RIGHT?
Posted by: jacky | June 21, 2008 at 11:55 PM